hornsack



R. w. HORNBACK.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

APIPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. l9l8.

1,31 1,811 8. Patented July 29, 1919.

`ROSS W. `I-IORNBACK, OF GARDNER, COLORADO.

ROTARY STEAM-EN GIN E.

h Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application led February 6, 1918. Serial No. 215,719.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Ross W. HORNBACK, a citizen of the' United States, residing at Gardner', inthe'county of Huerfano, State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of' the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in steam engines and particularly to rotary steam engines.

One object of the present invention is to provide av device of this character which inchicles novel and improved means for reversing the iow of steam to the cylinder and piston.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel and improved sliding abutment for the rotor of the engine.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a rotary steam engine made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a'vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the valves in one position.

Fig. 4l is a similar sectional view showing the position of the valves when reversed.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing 10 represents a casing which is formed, internally, with the two diametrically opposite abutments 11 in the inner wall. of the casing is lined with a packing member 12. Formed on the casing outwardly of the abutments are the valve casings 13 and 14, a passage 15 extending from the abutment inwardly of the casing 13 through the casing, while a passage 16 extends from the other abutment through the casing 14. A rotary valve 17 is mounted in the casing 13, while a similar valve 18 is mounted in the casing 14, the former having a transverse steam passage 19 while the latter is formed with a passage 20. In the top of the casing 13 there is connected a steam pipe 21 which curves upwardly on the external face of the casing l0 and is connected to one The inner face of the circular wall' side of' the steam chest 22. A similar pipe 23 is connected to the other side ot' the chest and extends downwardly and is connected to the top of the other casinglfl. In the top of the chest there is connected the main steam supply pipe 21. Within the chest is a rotary valve 25 having a recess 2G in the upper side thereof and in the opposite side walls of this recess there are formed the openings 27 and 28, the former of which is adapted to register with the adjacent end ol the pipe 21 when the valve 25 is turned in that direction while the other opening is arranged to register with the upper end of the pipe 23 when the valve is turned in the other direction from that first mentioned. Carried by the valve 25 is a pair of radially extending arms 26 which are connected respectively with similar arms 27 carried by the v'alves 17 and 1S, by means of the pivotally connected links 28. A lever 29 is also carried by the valve 25 whereby said valve may be rocked, first into one position and then into the other for the purpose of reversing the direction of rotation of the rotor.

It will thus be seen that when the lever 29 is swung in one direction, one of the valves at the side of the casing 10 will be turned to establish communication between the steam chest and the opening into the adjacent abutment, while when the valve 25 is turned in the opposite direction the first valve will be closed to the steam chest but opened to the atmosphere while the other valve will be opened to the steam chest and other abutment. Thus steam will enter the casing from the second-mentioned valve while the first valve will act as the exhaust. In the first instance, the second valve is the exhaust and the first valve the inlet.

The wheel is composed of the rim member 33, the spokes 34, and the hub 34, the latter receiving the axle or shaft A therethrough. Formed longitudinally through two opposite spokes are the bores 32, the outer ends being enlarged to form the recesscs 3l. Slidably disposed in each of the bores is the stem of the piston 36. l/Vithin each recess, and encircling the stem 35, is a coil spring 37, one end bearing against the inner wall of the recess while the other end bears against the rear of the piston. These Y that the bores are longer than the stems bores, pistons-movable into and' out of the whereby tree longitudinal movement of the recesses, stems carried by the pistons and stems is assured. slidable through said bores, and springs on 15 What is claimed is: the stems within the recesses for normally 5 A rotary engine including a casing hav- Vprojecting the pistons outward.

ing oppositely disposed abutments therein In testimony whereof, I aiiX my signature and ports leading therethrough, a rotor in the presence of two witnessesmounted in the casing and including a rim y and spokes, two of said spokes and the rim ROSS W' HORNBACK 10 being formed with diametrically arranged YWitnesses: Y Y 'v alining bores, the periphery of the rotor be- GABER forum, ing formed with recesses at the ends of the MIKE HALDEZ.

Copies ot thispatent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents',

. Washingtm, n. c. 

